I. CALL TO ORDER

Jacque Sample called the meeting to order at 3:01 p.m.

(Kieta Clay, Rene Powell appeared virtually)

Staff Present: Adam Kruse, Kathy Baker, Jacway Henry

No members of the public appeared in person. No members of the public appeared

virtually.

II. INTRODUCTIONS

Statement by Chair on Virtual Participation

Jacque Sample makes a statement on virtual participation and reminds participants to

keep cameras on.

III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Commission members wished to add “Accessible Bathrooms in City Hall” and

“Community Access Concern” to the end of new business.

Dawn Zeterberg made a motion to approve the agenda as amended. Vera

Elwood seconded the motion. All in favor; motion approved.

IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

DRAFT April 11, 2024 Disabilities Commission Meeting Minutes

Attachments: 04 April 11 2024 Minutes WORD version

Kieta Clay made a motion to approve the minutes. John Bowders seconded the

motion. All in favor; motion approved.

V. SPECIAL ITEMS

Discussion with staff from Human Resources Department, including Kathy

Baker, Director, and Jacway Henry, Leave and Accommodation Specialist,

on accessibility in employment and the accommodation process

Jacway Henry provides the Commission with an overview of the City’s employee

accommodation process, the interactive process that she will go through with each

employee. The Commission members discussed the process and asked questions. In

response to the questions, Jacway Henry as well as Kathy Baker reviewed the process

for requesting assistive technology at work, the City does not track the number of

employees who identify as having a disability, the forms used for the accommodation

process and how regularly the forms are reviewed and updated and that there is a budget

for Jacway Henry to attend conferences and ongoing training.

VI. OLD BUSINESS

Response from City Staff on February Meeting Topics

In February, staff members of the City Manager’s Office attended a Disabilities

Commission meeting and discussed updates and the City’s Strategic Plan. After the

meeting, the staff provided written responses to some of the topics that were raised and

staff wanted to look into. Jacque Sample reviewed the responses from the City Manager’s

Office and they were discussed by the Commission. For #2, Narcan training and

distribution, Patrika Brown discussed Narcan training and believed there was a

community training event on this topic at the Blue Note on May 15. For #4, Accessible

and affordable housing, Commission members requested an update on Council memos

and whether the City could add a separate drop-down item where staff could state that a

proposal relates to accessibility. For #5, Safe Streets for all, Commission members

requested an update on the status of the City’s Vision Zero High Injury Network (HIN)

Analysis map and maybe an example of what it will look like if it is not ready yet. For #6,

Accessible Job Postings, the Commission requested a status update of the City’s project

to update job descriptions based on results of a questionnaire. For #7, First responder

and disability awareness training, the Commission requested a status update and that it

is something to monitor for future meetings. Adam Kruse will follow up to get the updates

requested.

Discussion of Name of Disabilities Commission

Rene Powell stated that this general topic is something that is going to be discussed at

the National ADA Symposium, which Rene will be attending in early June. Rene

requested that this topic be tabled until after the ADA Symposium.

Discussion of Senator Chuck Graham Accessibility and Ambassador

Award

Jacque Sample provided an update and encouraged members to continue to share the

nomination process through social media. The Commission also requested that staff look

into the City putting out a press release. The Commission also discussed how the

University puts out nominations for the Lee Henson Award.

VII. NEW BUSINESS

Providing input on meeting space improvement ideas and accessibility

The Commission discussed the project for meeting space improvements, particularly to

City Hall. The ideas to share with Brian Adkisson, the City’s Communications and

Creative Services Manager. These ideas include (1) making presentations available on

personal mobile devices, (2) live captions in the meeting space, (3) wheelchair access to

podium, (4) designated empty spaces in audience for people who use wheelchairs, (5)

concerns with audience members having to stand in line for extended amount of time to

comment on important matters in front of City Council, (6) the temperature of meeting

spaces being too cold in the winter, (7) assistive listening devices at meetings, (8)

making transcripts available to the public after the meeting, (9) ensuring that automatic

doors to meetings do not close too quickly for people who use wheelchair or have other

mobility-related impairments, (10) the camera angle for presenters allow viewers to better

see them, and (11) better microphones for Room 1A/1B. Adam Kruse said he will provide

this information to Brian Adkisson on behalf of the Commission.

Discussion of a letter of support for a safe streets grant for pedestrian and

bicycle-related improvements project along Clark Lane

Adam Kruse provided an update on the City’s Vision Zero Task Force efforts to secure a

grant for the Clark Lane Multimodal and ADA Improvements Project. The Commission

discussed the issue and the challenges for pedestrians in this area.

Patrika Brown made a motion for the Disabilities Commission to submit a letter of

support for the grant application. Dawn Zeterberg seconded the motion. All in

favor, motion approved.

VIII. REPORTS

Future Agenda Items

Commission members discussed upcoming agenda to review police policies and mental

illness policy referenced in the Response from City Staff to February Meeting Topics,

upcoming sidewalk projects along Business Loop, the Commission evaluations to the

Disabilities Commission’s COMO Access Plan, and to invite members of the Police

Department and Fire Department to present.

Chair

Jacque Sample provided an update that Council recently had a discussion about the

Sidewalk Master Plan, and that preferably the Disabilities Commission would have had an

opportunity to provide input prior to the topic going in front of City Council.

Staff Report

Adam Kruse discussed the recent Earth Day Festival that members of the Commission

hosted a booth at, and provided an update on the upcoming National ADA Symposium.

Public Transit Advisory Commission

Dawn Zeterberg provides an update, says that their recent public input event went well.

MU Chancellor's Committee on Persons with Disabilities

Ann Marie Gortmaker provided an update on the Lee Henson award, Ann Marie said there

will be no more meetings until the next school year.

Vision Zero Working Group

John Bowders provides an update that the Clark Lane Improvements grant application is

being worked on.

Airport Steering Committee

John Bowders provides an update on the airport steering committee and recent projects.

IX. GENERAL COMMENTS BY PUBLIC, MEMBERS AND STAFF

Cathy Dolles, commented on the Broadway Sidewalk Closure and the need for a

crosswalk across Business Loop near Aldi’s.

Ann Marie Gortmaker comments on sidewalk closures, and that there has been progress

in the city since the sidewalk closure policy was enacted, but disappointed in some of

the closures as well as a lack of notice when sidewalks are going to close. In particular,

Ann Marie commented that she would have liked to have seen a press release about the

closure at 10th and Broadway.

Accessible Bathrooms in City Hall

Ann Marie Gortmaker provided an update to the Commission about the large, accessible

bathrooms located in City Hall, on the older side of the building. The Commission

discussed the restroom in that it might be more accessible to some people because its

space exceeds the ADA minimum standards and may be even more accessible for

people who use wheelchairs. Commission members raised concerns about signage to

ensure members of the public were aware this bathroom was available.

GENERAL COMMENTS BY PUBLIC, MEMBERS AND STAFF

Community Access Concern

Ann Marie Gortmaker discussed a community access concern about a steep wheelchair

ramp to get into Gumby’s restaurant downtown, and that the slope of the ramp is not

believed to be complaint with ADA standards. The Commission discussed the issue.

Ann Marie Gortmaker made a motion to send a community access concern letter

to Gumby’s on this issue. Jonathan Asher seconded the motion. All in favor,

motion approved.

X. NEXT MEETING DATE

June 13, 2024